Masterworks is creating a new asset class for retail and institutional investors by offering fractional shares of artwork by “blue-chip” artists like Monet, Warhol, and others. Historically, this asset class has only been available to ultra-wealthy individuals with millions of dollars to invest in a single work of art.
Claude Monet’s Coup de vent and Andy Warhol’s 1 Colored Marilyn are currently available. Similar to taking a company public, each offering is filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission before shares are sold.
The art market has shown returns that are uncorrelated with traditional investment vehicles (~0.10 or less for stocks, bonds, real estate, and gold). According to Artprice[1], since 2000, “blue-chip” artwork has outperformed the S&P 500 by more than 180% (with dividend reinvestment), averaging 8.9% per year.
We see Masterworks as part of the future of finance — offering investors easy access to unique investment vehicles with uncorrelated returns. The company’s founder, Scott Lynn, has a track record of building scalable technology businesses and a personal passion for art investing. We’re thrilled to partner with Scott and the Masterworks team to make art an investable asset for the masses.
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